Connecter



E- H. BOBO CONNECTER Nov, 8, 1927.

Filed Aug. l1, 1925 INVENTOR H 5.050 BY c 5 ,q

ATTORNEYS Patentes Nov. s, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. B030, l' RANGER, TEXAS.

onnacrna.

Application led August 11, 1925. Serial No. 49,587.

This invention relates to connecters especially ada ted for use inconnecting the vacuum tu e of radio apparatus to their sockets.

The object of the invention is to provide a connecter of this characterwhich affords a secure though readily releasable mechanical connectionbetween the tube and its socket and which is organized and adapted toutilize mercury as the electrical connecting medium between theterminals of the socket and the terminal of the vacuum tube whereby toprovi-de an unbroken metallic circuit for the current.

A further object of the invention resides 'in the provision of aconnecter having these advantages and capacities and which is of simpleand durable construction, rellable and etiiclent in operation and easyand comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reslde 1n certain novel features of theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointe-d out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming apart of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in transverse vertical section andpartly in elevation showing a vacuum tube and socket embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the socket shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the terminals of thesocket.

Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation of one of the terminals of thevacuum tube, and,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation looking to the leftv of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 designates generally a vacuumtube whlch has the usual base 2 from which the four terminals 3-project. Adapters designated generally at 4 are provided on theterminals.v

Each adapter includes a sleeve like body portion 5 fitted on andsoldered to its terminal. Around the lower portion of its periphe theAbody portion of each adapter is forme with a rib 6 and below the rib anaxial and reduced extension or tip 7 is formed on the body portion. Thebody portion 5 is partially cutaway as at 8 to facilitate soldering. Thelower end of each tip 7 is formed with a conical recess 9. The'tlp 7 istinned as at 7 to rovide for an unbroken connection between 1t and themercury later to be described.

s The socket provided for the vacuum tube 1s designated generally at 10and comprises a hard rubber body portion 11 in which terminalsdesignated generally at 12 are moulded. Each terminal 12 comprises ahollow cylindrical body portion 13 having its lower end closed as at138L and having .a curved flange 14 around its upper open end. In theflange 14 an annular leather washer 15 is snugly fitted and held andprovides a valve seat for a ball valve 16 arranged in the body portion13 and held against the inner side of the washer by means of anexpansible coil spring 17. A body of mercury designated at 18 isprovided wlthin the hollow body of each terminal 12.

The rubber body portion 11 is moulded within a metallic shell or casing19 which Iextends up above the body as shown in Fig. 1. A vertical slot2O is provided in the casing 19 and receives a laterally projecting pin22 fixed to the base of the vacuum tube.

One or more resilient catches 25 are provided, each catch 25 having anattaching portion 26 riveted to the shell 19, a U- shaped body portion27 extending in through an opening provided therefor in the shell 19 andengageable with the rib 6 and a finger piece 28 which permits retractionof the ody portion.

When the vacuum tube is inserted in-its socket the tips 7 of theadapters depress the balls 16 and the tips become immersed in themercury in the hollow bodies 13. The recessed lower ends of the tipsform seats for the balls and insure their movement down into the hollowbody portions 13 and prevent the balls from becoming wedged bctwecn thetips and the inner walls of the body portions 13. The pin and slot 22and 20 and the spring catch 28 positively secures the vacuum tube in itssocket. The mercury affords an unbroken metallic circuit and is shut offfrom the air. The opening in the leather washer 15 is just large enoughto admit thc tip 7. Vhen the vacuum tube is removed the ball valves 16automatically shut off the mercury from the air.

The socket terminal 12 hasuthe inner pcriphery of its hollow bodyportion tinned, as indicated at 12 in Figure 3.

Due to the tinning of the cooperable terminals, the terminals will notbe destroyed Ion vlofi by continued amalgamationA and yet the mercurycoheres to the terminals in such a manner as to exclude air and providefor a continuous and unbroken metallic connection. When a metal istinned, that is coat-ed with tin, a film of the tin alloys with themetal at the juncture of the metal and tin, and while the tinamalgamates with the mercury this film of alloy will not, and holds theamalgamated tin thereto. YThe tinned terminals could not be replaced bya metal which entirely resisted the action of the mercury because thenthe advantage of a continuous unbroken metallic circuit would not be hadas a film of air would be present between such a metal and the mercury.

I claim 1. A connecter for use with a vacuum tube and its socketcomprising cooperable metal terminals carried by the tube and socket,said terminals being tinned, and a body of mer-` cury between theterminals.

2. In a connecter for use with 'a vacuum tube and its socket,interfitting terminals carried by the tube and socket, one of theterminals being hollow, a body of mercury contained in hollow terminaland affording an unbroken metallic circuit between the terminals, saidterminals having the portions thereof which contact with the mercurytinned and means for shutting out air from the mercury.

3. In a connecter for use with a vacuumV tube and its socket,interftting terminalsl contained in hollow terminal and affording anunbroken metallic circuit between the terminals, said terminals havingthe portions thereof which Contact with the mercury tinned, means forshutting out air from the mercury, and comprisimg` a yieldable valveseat and a spring seated ball valve co-operable with the valve seat.

4, In a connecter.for use with a vacuum tube and its socket, terminalson the vacuum tube havingu tips, hollow terminals on the socket havingoutwardly curved flanges, annular yieldable washers in said flanges,mercury in the hollow bodies, and spring projected balls engageable withthe washers, the tips beingl insertable through the washers and beingadapted to unseat the balls the tips being immersed in the mercury whenthe terminals are connected, the tips and the portions ofthe hollowterminals contacting with the mercury being tinned.

5. In a connecter for use with a vacuum tube and its socket, terminalson the vacuum tube. said terminals having tinned tips, hollow internallytinned terminals on the socket having openings, yieldable washersmounted on the hollow terminals around said openings, spring projectedballs loosely movable in the hollow terminals and engageablc with thewashers, the tips being insertible through the washers and havingcup-shaped recesses to engage and unseat the balls and hold themcentered in the hollow terminals, the tips being immersed in the mercurywhen the terminals are connected.

EDWARD H. BOBO.

